Keep `Doors' Closed

March 08, 1991|By CARMEN SANCHEZ Splash! Movie Review Crew

Whether Oliver Stone's latest film reflects upon the lives of The Doors in a positive way is a question I cannot answer. During the second half of the '60s, the world lacked my presence so I don't really know how society dealt with four young hellions like The Doors. Although the validity of some of the content is questionable, I feel that much of "The Doors" is sensationalistic.

The storyline centers totally around Jim Morrison and his quest for something known only to him. The man obviously is not satisfied with life so he travels often, via heroin and PCP. The movie starts out with Morrison and the rest of The Doors starting the band and getting their big break. Much of the remaining scenes are either live performances, acid induced trips, or sex. Eventually Jim Morrison dies of heart failure and the credits start to roll.

Val Kilmer who's a mirror image of Jim Morrison does an excellent job of playing the brilliant yet constantly high lead singer of The Doors. Meg Ryan plays Pam, Morrison's girlfriend. She gives a so-so performance, nothing to scream about. If you watch carefully Billy Idol will appear on the screen for a couple of seconds. Chances are you won't recognize him.

There are a few things I really didn't like about "The Doors". A lot of the nudity and sexual situations I find unnecessary, offensive, and exploitive. It's too bad that a movie has to have such garbage in it in order to sell tickets. This movie also glorifies the use of pot and acid. In an age where young people are so impressionable, I found this to be in poor taste. Fortunately, society isn't into the "freebird" "trip-out" type of thinking anymore.

Even though this movie had some problems, I can honestly say that I liked it. I liked it only because it made me feel really bizarre. Spirals, stripes, and amoeba like shapes would suddenly appear on the screen like in a music video. The whole movie is really strange.

If you're a Doors fan this film is well worth a look. The trip(pardon the pun) down memory lane might be fun. Otherwise it may be in your best interest to see something else.